He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in business administration in 1979, also winning Kentucky's All-Academic Award that same year.[7]

Coaching[edit]

Casey began his coaching career in 1979 due to a suggestion made by his coach Joe B. Hall. Casey spent a season with Hall as an assistant coach at Kentucky. The next season, Casey made the move to Western Kentucky, where he spent the next five seasons. Casey later returned to Kentucky in 1985 where he would take the role of assistant coach and top recruiter.[8]

In late March 1988 while still serving as an assistant coach at Kentucky, Emery Worldwide employees discovered $1,000 in cash in an envelope that was accidentally opened. The envelope was addressed to Claud Mills, the father of recruit Chris Mills, and the sender was identified as Casey. The University of Kentucky said that the evidence collected during the investigation was inconclusive, and does not prove that Casey sent the money.[9][10] The scandal resulted in Casey's resignation, and Casey being placed on probation for 5 years by the NCAA.[11] The NCAA later rescinded the penalty after it was shown that Casey wasn't involved in sending the package.[12] Casey also settled outside of court in a defamation suit against Emery Worldwide. The case was originally for $6.9 million.[13]

After his resignation from Kentucky, Casey accepted a head coaching job in the Japanese Basketball League. During his time there, Casey coached for Sekisui Chemical and Isuzu Motors Lynx. While in Japan, Casey did coaching work for the national team alongside longtime friend Mototaka Kohama and veteran coach Pete Newell.[14]

Casey left the Japanese Basketball League in 1994 after received an assistant coaching position for the Seattle SuperSonics. During his time in Seattle, the team won 4 division titles.

During the summers, Casey continued to work with the Japanese national team. In the summer of 1998 the team appeared in the FIBA World Championship basketball tournament, which would be the team's first appearance there in over 30 years.[7]

At the beginning of the 2005–06 NBA season, Casey landed his first job as head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, replacing Kevin McHale. Casey's overall record with the team was 53–69, he was fired on January 23, 2007 lasting only a season and a half with the Timberwolves.[15] At the time of his firing, the Timberwolves were 20–20, he was replaced by assistant coach Randy Wittman, who went 12–30 for the rest of the season.[16]

In early June 2011, the Toronto Raptors decided not to pick up the option on Jay Triano's contract. Casey was named the new Raptors head coach on June 21 and would run through until the 2013–14 season.[1]

Casey's first two seasons with the Raptors involved little to no success. The team exceeded expectations in the first season, and underachieved in the second. The team failed to make the playoffs both seasons. During Casey's third season with the team, they managed to set a new team record for most wins in a season, an Atlantic Division Championship, and their first playoff appearance in six years.

On May 6, 2014, a day after being eliminated from the playoffs, Casey and the Raptors agreed on a three-year contract extension.[17]

Personal life[edit]

Casey and his family have a home in Seattle, Washington. He and his wife Brenda have two children, Justine and Zachary.[18] During the summers, Casey likes to travel to Japan to help with basketball camps and coaching clinics.[19]